Kids Quest Manager

YWCA Northeast Kansas; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

YWCA Northeast Kansas is seeking a Kids Quest Manager to lead the before- and after-school programs with a focus on safe operation, enrollment, billing, licensing compliance, and family communication. You will work closely with school partners, staff, and leadership to ensure high-quality programming across multiple sites.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Programs, you will build staffing structures for growth, manage day-to-day operations, and drive program expansion and quality across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field preferred; relevant professional/lived experience considered.
• Minimum 3 years in youth services or early childhood education with program/administration experience.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred and may be obtained after hire.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Kids Quest before- and after-school programs, ensuring smooth daily operations.
• Ensure compliance with licensing and regulatory standards for safe programming.
• Recruit, train, and supervise staff; foster positive, collaborative work culture.
• Coordinate with schools and families; manage enrollment, scheduling, and billing processes.
• Develop staffing plans and program expansion strategies across locations.
• Generate reports on participation, financials, and program performance.

Skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Leadership

Nonprofit management

Education

Postsecondary education in education/child development

Tools

Billing software

Database management

Reporting tools

Job description

YWCA Northeast Kansas is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. We provide transformative services in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking, Community Violence Interruption, before- and after-school programming, and leadership and inclusion initiatives.

Job Classification:Exempt, Full-Time

Work Schedule:40-hour work week, between the hours of 7:00AM-5:30PM

Reporting Relationship:Senior Director of Programs

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Senior Director of Programs, the Kids Quest Manager provides operational, administrative, and programmatic leadership for YWCA Northeast Kansas’s Kids Quest before- and after-school programming. The Kids Quest Manager is responsible for the effective day-to-day operation of the program, including staffing, enrollment, billing, licensing and regulatory compliance, family communication, program quality, and administrative systems. As Kids Quest continues to grow, this position also plays a key leadership role in program expansion, including planning and implementing new program sites, increasing enrollment and capacity, developing staffing structures to support growth, and ensuring consistent program quality and operations across all Kids Quest locations.

The Kids Quest Manager works closely with school partners, families, staff, and YWCA leadership to ensure Kids Quest remains a safe, responsive, sustainable, and high-quality resource for children and families.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides job-related support to all departments in the agency by doing the following:

• Management of Kids Quest before- and after-school programs, providing technical support and expertise in daily operations.
• Ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, as well as licensing standards, maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all participants.
• Recruits, trains, and supervises a diverse team of staff for Kids Quest, fostering a positive and collaborative work culture.
• Collaborates with staff and school administrators to ensure the effective operation of Kids Quest, including staff scheduling, curriculum implementation, and adherence to safety protocols.
• Provides emergency substitution as needed.
• Oversees the billing process, including generating invoices, tracking payments, and ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Serves as a key point of contact for parents, caregivers, and community partners regarding enrollment, billing, and program inquiries, fostering positive relationships.
• Coordinates the enrollment process for all youth programs, maintaining accurate records and ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Creates and maintains reports related to program participation, financials, and other key metrics to support decision-making and program evaluation.
• Assists in monitoring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations related to youth programming, ensuring adherence to organizational standards and best practices.

Program Expansion & Growth

• Works with the Senior Director of Programs and organizational leadership to plan and implement the continued expansion of Kids Quest.
• Supports the development and launch of new Kids Quest locations, including site readiness, licensing, staffing, enrollment, supplies, schedules, and operational systems.
• Assess staffing, enrollment, space, transportation, and other operational needs associated with program growth.
• Develops processes and systems that allow Kids Quest to scale effectively while maintaining consistent quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with schools and other community partners to identify opportunities for program growth and increased access to services.
• Monitors enrollment trends, waitlists, program capacity, and community needs to inform expansion and program planning.
• Supports outreach and recruitment efforts designed to increase awareness of Kids Quest and connect families with available programming.
• Assists leadership with evaluating the operational and financial sustainability of existing and potential Kids Quest locations.

Other Position Functions

• Refrains from assuming any duty that is unrelated to and/or interferes with the responsibilities of the position.
• Develops, promotes, and practices teamwork and open communication in all activities.
• Assists in maintaining the operational functions of YWCA Northeast Kansas headquarters, including serving as a substitute for the front desk when needed.
• Advocates, promotes, and practices cultural sensitivity and responsiveness in day-to-day interactions.
• Other duties as associated by the supervisor and CEO. The job description does not state or imply that these are the only activities to be performed by the employee holding this position.

QUALIFICATIONS

At a minimum, the Kids Quest Manager must have:

• Postsecondary education or training in education, child development, youth development, nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field is a plus; however, relevant professional and lived experience will be equally considered.
• Minimum of three years of experience in youth services or early childhood education, with a focus on administration and program management.
• Strong technical skills, including proficiency in billing software, database management, and reporting tools.
• Certification in First Aid and CPR (can be achieved immediately following hire)
• Knowledge of KDHE licensing regulations.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Commitment to the YWCA mission and values, including a strong focus on racial equity and social justice.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Travel Requirements:
  
  • Minimum travel in local community.
  • Valid driver’s license.
  • Transportation.
  • Auto insurance.
• Pass various background checks.

NON DISCRIMINATION

YWCA Northeast Kansas is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and trauma-informed workplace. We recognize that systemic inequities impact many aspects of society, and we strive to address these through our policies, practices, and organizational culture. We believe that diversity in all its forms strengthens our mission and our work.

We do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. No question on our application is intended to secure information to be used for such discrimination.

We are also committed to fair hiring practices, including the consideration of qualified applicants with criminal records, in line with applicable laws and our values of second chances and community reintegration.

We strongly encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; immigrants and refugees; LGBTQIA+ individuals; people with disabilities; gender-diverse individuals; survivors; and members of other historically underrepresented